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How to Stay Busy to Avoid Relapse

Sometimes in recovery you may feel like you are bored due to the changes you are making. Other times, you can be unsure of what to do when triggers or cravings pop up. This can be a slippery slope for those who are new in recovery. Your mind could trick you in a variety of different ways because your addiction is always lurking around trying to find ways to come out and take over once again. You can stay sober through anything when you continue to trudge the road of recovery to avoid relapse.

Stay in action.

Having quality activities that can distract you from thinking about old addictive behaviors will give you an opportunity to do something more positive. Go to 12-Step meetings, work the steps with a sponsor, or pick up the phone to call other people that are going through the same thing you are only to ask how they are doing. You will be pleasantly surprised with the results.

Do the next indicated step.

Sometimes this can be hard to figure out. Ask people what they did to stay sober. Find out what someone else’s next indicated step was and follow suit. Seeking the answers for progress in recovery will keep you on the right track and show you what should happen next.

Try something new.

Acquire new recovery friends and go have some fun. Recovery does not have to be all about step work and meetings. Your life would become redundant in no time and that is not how recovery is meant to be. Fellowship with your new friends and go do some fun, sober stuff. Go bowling. Go sky-diving! The sky is literally the limit for what you can find to do in sobriety.

Reach out to save yourself.

You were probably taught in early sobriety to stop be so selfish, but calling someone else to save yourself is a win-win for everyone involved. Reaching out to someone else may be just what they needed too. Calling or texting others to just say “hi” is sure to brighten anyone’s day especially because we are waiting to find out what someone really needs when they call. Letting someone know that you were thinking about them, just because, really is not so selfish after all.

Stay busy in recovery because it could be the very thing that keeps you from having to go back out there to do more research. Most likely things will just get progressively worse and you will have start all over.

Serenity Oaks Wellness Center is 5-week extensive treatment program that can help someone who is struggling with drugs or alcohol learn how to live a new life of sobriety. Our qualified staff is here to show you how to stay busy and stay sober.